The Prince’s great-grandparents, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, were the last Royal visitors to Old Government House when it served as Queensland’s official vice-regal residence and office from 1862 to 1910. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York stayed for four days at the House in 1901, as part of their tour commemorating the Federation of the Commonwealth of Australia.

After today’s official ceremony, the Premier accompanied Prince Charles and the Duchess on a stroll into the adjacent City Botanic Gardens, where they met crowds who had waited patiently and braved the morning showers.

The Prince and the Duchess then enjoyed some private time in Old Government House before heading to their next engagement at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.

This is Prince Charles’s seventh visit and the Duchess’s second visit to Queensland. Their tour focuses on the themes of community, sustainability and disaster recovery and resilience, and reflects the Prince’s strong relationship with the Australian Armed Forces, as well as the work of the Prince’s Trust Australia.

Tonight the Prince, representing the Queen, will officially open the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.